GERMAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE

Packed with information about the Abwehr, Germany's Military Intelligence Service under Admiral Canaris, this should read like true espionage thrillers, but somehow seems, with rare exceptions, like deadpan reporting, on the part of one of Canaris' staff. Only in retrospect does one realize how much meat is here. Leverhuehn handled, personally, espionage and counter-espionage in the Near East and Turkey. He reveals some inside bits about the Mufti's escape, about the intrigue with Iraqui, the operations in South Africa, the Brandenburg Commandos behind Russian lines, the use of disaffected Poles and Ukranians. He seems a bit scornful of British and American amateurishness, claiming that the Germans know most of their secrets. He writes of preparations for invasion of the Low Countries and Norway, the difficulties in divided France, of the use of seafaring experience to land agents destined to organized sabotage and use underground contracts. Canaris is given full credit for work with Spain and the Balkans and behind Russian lines. Some news value in a brief account of activities in India, where Bose played into German hands. A book to link with Hoetti's The Secret Front, though less compelling reading.